Anyone used an Eye Fi or FreshAir SD card?

Prophet · 30 Nov 2015 at 14:49

I need to WIFI my images to an iPad to show a client images as they happen. I've looked at the EyeFi Mobi Pro and Toshiba FreshAir cards but they have mixed reviews.

Can anyone recommend a reliable solution please?

Greebo · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:13

Buy a camera body with built in wifi?

Prophet · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:15

Greebo said:
Buy a camera body with built in wifi?

It's for one job and I have a 5Dmk3.

Greebo · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:18

Nikon and Canon do specific wifi adaptors which plug into your micro usb slot.

Greebo · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:21

Prophet said:
It's for one job and I have a 5Dmk3.

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/c...s-tripods-other-accessories?WT.mc_id=C126149#

but since they are professional, they arent cheap. But I would expect them to work properly since they are designed for the 5Dmk3.

There are third party ones available too - the CamRanger, Weye Feye, and iUSBportCamera

EDIT: If its just for one job, look at hiring in the Canon Pro wifi adaptor?

Prophet · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:21

Greebo said:
Nikon and Canon do specific wifi adaptors which plug into your micro usb slot.

I've looked at those but they cost almost as much as I'm being paid for the job.

The WIFI SD cards would be ideal if I can get a real world review as they cost around £40.

If This job goes well I'll be their regular shooter so long term I can invest in a Canon transmitter.

Greebo · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:25

Can't help you with real world review. The issues from reviews with both cards is that 1. They eat your camera batteries and 2. File transfer is 10 to 20 seconds per picture (lowish quality) so you not sure whether that would be quick enough of not?

Prophet · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:29

Greebo said:
Can't help you with real world review. The issues from reviews with both cards is that 1. They eat your camera batteries and 2. File transfer is 10 to 20 seconds per picture (lowish quality) so you not sure whether that would be quick enough of not?

Yeah those two things were my main concerns. Luckily there will be around 3 breaks per session so I'll be able to USB the pics to my laptop. I thought it would be nicer to have them pop up on a screen if I could.

Greebo · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:35

Prophet said:
Yeah those two things were my main concerns. Luckily there will be around 3 breaks per session so I'll be able to USB the pics to my laptop. I thought it would be nicer to have them pop up on a screen if I could.

Like they do on America's top model you mean? Yeah would be nice but I suspect you pay £800 for the proper thing from Canon compared to £40 for a reason?

I'd try and hire one in for the event. That way it shouldn't cost you much and if it's pretty instant and works well, you can look at buying one for the long term?

Looks like £30 a day/£120 a week gets you one on hire. and they can be bought for £429 now. That 150Mb/s transfer speed is appealing plus looks like you can do other things like remote control the camera with it as well.

Prophet · 30 Nov 2015 at 15:42

Greebo said:
Like they do on America's top model you mean? Yeah would be nice but I suspect you pay £800 for the proper thing from Canon compared to £40 for a reason?

I'd try and hire one in for the event. That way it should cost you much and if it's pretty instant and works well, you can look at buying one for the long term?

Looks like £30 a day/£120 a week gets you one on hire. and they can be bought for £429 now. That 150Mb/s transfer speed is appealing.

Good idea. I'll take a look at hiring one

D.P. · 30 Nov 2015 at 16:43

Prophet said:
Yeah those two things were my main concerns. Luckily there will be around 3 breaks per session so I'll be able to USB the pics to my laptop. I thought it would be nicer to have them pop up on a screen if I could.

I have a FlashAir card I got for free with my Olympus Epm2. I sometimes use it to transfer photos to the ipad, its handy but I don't think it will do what you want.

When the camera is transferring photos you cant take a picture with the software I use, and the transfer is not automatic, you select which photo you want and you slowly get them transferred. Resolution is capped at something like 1200p. Other software is likely different. If you do find software that transfer continuously then the problem I see is the speed, it takes like 10-15 seconds per photo at least.

There are a few other practical considerations. I would be more concerned about. Primarily, I think most transfer software will only work on jpegs and for a professional job i want RAW photos sent to both memory cards as a proper backup and I don't particularly want jpeg slowing down writes speeds, which are pretty mediocre on the wifi cards as it is. You then have the problem that if you transfer all photos then that will include all failures, which unless you are Ken Rockwell, aka the chuck norris pf photography, you might get some worried looks.